SOURCE: AFI
In a significant boost to India’s indigenous defense ambitions, U.S.-based General Electric (GE) has expressed strong interest in supplying engines for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) fifth-generation stealth fighter, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). According to an Economic Times report, GE Chairman and CEO Larry Culp highlighted the company’s eagerness to compete for the contract, underscoring India’s growing importance as a strategic market for both civil and defense aerospace sectors. This development comes as India accelerates its AMCA program to counter regional threats and bolster its air power, particularly in light of recent tensions with Pakistan and China’s advancements in stealth technology.
In an interview with The Economic Times, Larry Culp emphasized GE’s commitment to supporting India’s aerospace ambitions, stating, “We are very interested. If you look at what we’re doing with the Tejas with our 404 engines, we are right in the middle of probably what matters most in that regard.”
The AMCA, a 25-tonne, twin-engine, all-weather stealth fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is a cornerstone of India’s push for self-reliance in defense technology. The aircraft is intended to perform a wide range of missions, including air superiority, ground strikes, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and electronic warfare (EW), with mass production slated for 2035.
GE’s interest in the AMCA program builds on its existing collaboration with India’s defense sector. The company is already supplying F404 engines for the Tejas Mark-1A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Despite delays in engine deliveries due to global supply chain challenges, GE has ramped up production, delivering the first of 99 F404 engines in March 2025, nearly two years behind schedule. Culp noted that GE is working to accelerate deliveries, with a double-digit increase in engine receipts from April to May compared to the first quarter of 2025. This track record positions GE as a strong contender for the AMCA engine contract, particularly for the initial Mark-1 variant, which is expected to use GE F414 engines in the 98-kilonewton (kN) thrust class.
GE’s bid for the AMCA engine contract places it in competition with other global aero-engine giants, including France’s Safran and the UK’s Rolls-Royce, both of which are also in talks for co-development opportunities. Rolls-Royce has offered to co-design and co-develop a 110-kN engine, with India retaining intellectual property rights, a key consideration for the DRDO’s goal of achieving technological self-reliance. France, meanwhile, is in advanced discussions for engine collaboration, leveraging its experience with the Rafale’s M88 engines. GE’s advantage lies in its established relationship with HAL and the proven performance of its F404 and F414 engines, which are already integrated into the Tejas program.
However, GE faces scrutiny over past delays in engine deliveries for the Tejas Mark-1A, which prompted criticism from IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh. At the CII Annual Business Summit on May 29, 2025, Singh highlighted HAL’s struggles with unrealistic timelines and GE’s supply chain bottlenecks, which have impacted operational readiness. Culp acknowledged these challenges, stating, “We are in a super cycle, and supply chain discussions will continue to dominate.” Despite these hurdles, GE’s commitment to increasing engine deliveries and its plans to establish a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for civilian aircraft engines in India signal a long-term investment in the Indian market, which currently operates over 1,400 GE engines with 2,500 more on order.
NOTE: AFI is a proud outsourced content creator partner of IDRW.ORG. All content created by AFI is the sole property of AFI and is protected by copyright. AFI takes copyright infringement seriously and will pursue all legal options available to protect its content.